Hydraulic earth-boring apparatus



s, 1939 K. BM ET 'AL 2,1s9,118

HYDRAULI C EARTH BORING APPARATUS Original Filed April 1, 1.937

Patented Aug. 15, 1939 2,169,718 HYDRAULIC EARTH-BORING APPARATUS 1 Karl Biill,-Berlin, and Arthur Edelhofl, Berlin- Schoneberg, Germany, assignors to .Sprenge und Tauchgesellsehaft m. b. 11., Berlin- Schoneberg, Germany, a. corporation of Gery Original application April 1, 1937, Serial No. 134,281. Divided and this application July 9,

1938, Serial No. 218,290. In Germany July'29,

4 Claims. (01. 255-24) invention relates to earth boring apparatus, the present application being a division of our copending application now U. S. Patent No. 2,137,261 of Nov. 22, 1938. a In boring holes for flushing-in mines'as described in our said copending application; by the use of a combined cutting and flushing bit, when a depth greater than eight meters is reached, it

may occur that an interruption of the supply of water to the flushing nozzles will allow the sand to settle and choke the boring hole,'rendering it diflicult to start the operation again. Where the.

depth goes beyond one pipe length, requiring the addition of pipe lengths as the hole becomes deeper, an interruption in the supply of flushing water would ordinarily occur each time a new 4 nozzle 30 perforated at its end and sides by holes ll. Parallel to the pipe 3 are two auxiliary pipes 20 and 2|, the three pipes being united by braces 23. The pipes 20 and II carry at their lower ends nozzles 20a and Ila, similar to the nozzle 3a. Upon the lower end of the unit a circular cutting bit it is mounted by struts 9 extending down 35 from the lowermost brace 2311, this cutting bit being preferably positioned at the level of the auxiliary nozzles 20a, 2 la. Three separate pumps 35, each with a hose 36, are provided for the respective pipes 3, 20 and 2|.

In operation the unit comprising the three pipes and cutting edge may be suspended by any suitable means (not shown) by which it can be raised and lowered to give the cutting edge a chopping action. The hoses 36 being connected to the pipes 3, 20 and 2|, water is supplied to these pipes by the pumps 35 and sprayed out in jets from the nozzles 3a, 2011 and Ila, thus assisting the operation or the cutting edge and setting up a circulation of water which carries the loosened soil out of the bore hole. When it becomes necessary to add to the pipes, the central pipe 3 is first disconnected from its hose 36, while the supply of water is continued through the pipes 20 and 2|. A section of pipe 22 is thenconnected to pipe 3 and the corresponding hose 36 coupled to the upper end thereof. The pump 35 which supplies the pipe 3 is then started and water flows once more from the main nozzle 3a. Thereupon the auxiliary pipes 20 and 2| can be lengthened simultaneously or successively while the flow of water is maintained through the main pipe 3. Thus-at no time does the loosened soil have an opportunity to settle in the 3 a flushing nozzle on each pipe, and means for connecting each pipe. to a separate water supply. 2. In a device for'boring in the earth, a plurality of uncommunicating pipes in sections,

means (or holding said pipes together as a unit, a flushing nozzle on each pipe, a pump for each pipe, and means for individually connecting each pump to its pipe.

: 3. In a device for boring in the earth, a plurality of pipes in sections, means for joining said pipes into a unit, a flushing nozzle on each pipe, means for. connecting each pipe to a water supply, a circular knife surrounding said pipe unit, and radial struts joining said,knife to said pipe unit.

4. In the art of sinking bore holes inthe earth a with the aidof flushing water, the improvement which consists in supplying the flushing water to 

